Log trisecting structure



Aug. 18, 1936. c; HILKE 2,051,256

LOG TRISECTING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 10, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR'1-1 enry 6': flllliz RNEY Aug. 18, 1936. H. c. HILKE 6 I LOG TRISEC'UNGSTRUCTURE Filed Oct. 10, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I/enry 6:fill/lie A TORNEY Aug. 18, 1936. Y H c HILKE 2,051,256 I LOG TRI SECTING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 10, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet s l I i N INVENTORI.flea/"y Cf/I/ke &

TTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,051,256 LOGTRISECTING STRUCTURE Henry C. Hilke, Seattle, Wash. Applicationctober'10, 1933, Serial No. 692,944

9 Claims. (01. 143-38) l0 and in the'construction, adaptation, and.combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through structure constitutingthe now preferred embodiment of the invention, the section being takenon the line. |-l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2.is a longitudinal vertical sectionthereof taken on the line 22 ofEig. 1; and

Fig-3 isatopplan view. 7

In ,c1arifying the invention, it is pointed out that an especialadvantagelachieved from the trisection ,of a log-is. the ability toproduce vertical grain lumber or shingles,,according as to whether logsor. shingle blocks constitute thework. More especially, eachproducedsector being. cut into lumber or shingles by. running the saw cuts.par-. allel as regards a substantialradial, center line of the sector,each of. said .saw. cuts. cross a plurality of the wood grains... Afurther advantage is that -a. selective.portion.of alog maybe re-' movedas a. sector,..especially. of .import con sidering; that notinfrequently .a materialportion of a log, while suitable for shingles,is not,.suit-.

35 able :forlumber production. Trisection allows the operator to obtainfrom each-log the maximum output of lumber--by;.-remo,ving as agsectorstock suitable for the production of "high-grade. lumber. whileremoving-asseparate sectors the lower-grade lumber or shingle stock.Heretofore logs which may contain lower-grade stockin oneside of thesame have not infrequently-been utilized entirely for shingleproduction.

As distinguished from-the previous practice of quartering a shingleblock to afiordproduction of, vertical grain shingles, saidquarteringflbeing obtained, by imparting a diametrical cut to the block.anddividing the half-log-slabs, the-90 degree angled configurationof-the sectorsthereby provided operatesto produce, especially where theblocks are of relativelysmall diameters, an

excessive .quantityof narrow shingles. A further disadvantage ofthequartering method comparatively with trisection is additional waste,it being understoodthat. strips of wood, of substantial die..- metricalconfigurations, said strips beingtermed spalts, arelost from both theleading. and the following edges of theesectorsas, the. same arebeing-reduced to lumber or shingles. In clarifying, the quarteringmethod producesone additional sector from which spaltwaste is had.

Regarding the present invention, from a geometric view; three circularsaws areused, such saws being disposed to have their. planes ofrevolution intersect one another at angles of 120 degrees, a developmentof the axes thereof 111922.0 cordance producing an equilateral trianglewith in the confines of which the log or the shingle block, as the. casemay be,..is fed longitudinally."

Such saws, moreover, are of a radius to each-.1,v

extend into proximity of but spaced from' the point of intersection oftheir planes of movement, to produce, the work being located to disposeits center in axial alignment with the intersecting point of thesawplanes,a center core inthe work extending the length of the same. Suchcore operates to maintain the sectors of the trisected work from bindingthe saws'during cut-' ting activity.

Having particular reference to the drawings, the saws are represented bythe numerals 6,1, and 8, supporting shafts therefor being indicated by9, l6, and II, respectively. Said shafts are journaled in a pair ofbearing blocks i3 and M which are spaced one from the'other for tlie--reception of the upper saw 6 therebetweemeach of said bearing blocksbeing formed to a T-formation in top plan and rigidly secured bymeans ofrails I 2 and upright members l9 of an angle-iron frame.

A drive to theshaft 9. comprises a chain, I 5 from a. motor l6, bevelgears I! at each end1of. the

shaft 9,meshing.bevel gears .l8 ontheshafts l0 and H to drive'thelatter. I It is .tobe noted that the present embodiment is designedprimarilyfor the trisection, of shingle.

blocks, as indicated at. W. In supporting. the same I provide an endlesschain of interconnected links which areformed toa substantial U-.

shape in the provision, of laterally spaced. apart arms 2| terminatingat the, outer extremities in rearwardly inclined dog tips 22, saiddogsacting to penetratethe work with the in'clinationsof the same opposingthe forces of dislodgement imparted from the saws to the work. Ach'assis'for said chain carriage is represented at 23, a track 24 providedthereby receiving the rollers 25. of the chain links. 26 indicatesasprocket wheel drive for the chain driven from a motor (not shown),

Shingleblocks are fed from a feed fplatformor as,

may otherwise be desired to the. forward end of the chain carriage,regulating; mechanism being provided for the latter in adjusting thesame to various heights in conformity with the diameter of shingle blockwhich is being handled.

Relative thereto, companion elevator chains 21, 28, and 29,.30. areconnected'withsliding guide arms at each .end of the chassis23iand areaf-' forded collective movement. from sprocket wheels keyed tooverheadshafts 3| and 32; Said shafts, through the medium threads of a drawftive in raising or lowering the carriage V v of a reversing motor 33,and gearing 34 toua worm '35 which acts in internal block 36, arerendered opera- 7 V More particularly, engagin'gsaid draw block atopposite sidesof the same are two chains, one of a which, the chain 21,passes over a w enga'gement with a guide armof'the' chassis, and

the otherfchain, indicated at 38, passing about a sprocketwheel 39 fromwhich it passesbelowthe "draw block to a sprocket wheel All on the shaft7 v32, being securedto a lug thereon for'rotati'ngthe 7 shaft and itsassociated sprocket wheels 4!, 42, which'act to receive the'chains 29,30. Said sprocket wheels 31fand'39 'co-act in rotating the shaft 3I,"asprocket wheel on which receives the elevator chain 28.

While representing "elevating structure designed a to trisect relativelyshort'shingle blocks, the taper of which isnegligible, itis believedobvious that 7' inrrthetrisection of logs, wherethe lengthof the samerenders the taper material,the two ends of the log areflelevatedindependently in positioning the centerfaxially as regards the center:of the] Saws." V

V The operation of theiinvention should be clear' from the foregoing,The produced sectors which;

7: fas'by the scope of :the

entirefshingle 1 0 in transverse section, constitute a trisection of,the'block are'reduced to shingles by, cutting the a same onlines'parallel with theisubstantial radial center, line of the sector,theshingle cuts in no instancerunning :1." In' sawstructure'for'trisecting logs, in oombinatiomaeircular saw mounted forrotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis, a pair of circularsaws located below said first-named saw a and operating'in'c 1 ment isabout inclined axes intersecting one anf other .and said first namedaxisat angles of degrees to one another, a carriage for thewo'rksupported for movement below said saws on'the longitudinal plane, of thefirst-named saw, means lto regulate the 'carriagelvertically to locatethe work centrally of the saws, and means for driving said carriagelongitudinally to feed the 'work into cutting relation with the saws i a2; The structure as defined in claim Land 9; V f system ofintermeshingbevel gears interconnect-' tion of three circular ing said saws toprovide a positive drive for operating the same at 1 3. In logtrisecting mechanism,

one another, the scope of the respective saws terminatinginrelativeproximity of but spaced equi distantly from a point orintersection common to teach, of the saw planes, a I operative tosupport the work and feedithe same" horizontal; carriage through thespace bounded by the lines ofthe saw axes, said carriage operating in aplane belownsaid point, of intersection locate the center of the Ito'said'point of intersection of the saw planes; 14.111 log trisectingmechanism, the combination 7 height of the carriage to work axially withrespect means" to regulate the of three circular saws amounted to rotateabout axesi disposed at angles of, 60 degrees to one'an-, othenthscope'oi the respective saws terminating sprocket 2 1 for:

' another, the planes of meeting on a common horizontally disposed axialmeans to elevate and lower onjunction therewith for movei about axesdisposed i I oneanother, positive dri've' means'for rotating' a uniformspeed from a source ]of power common to each. r r a V the combina' sawsmounted to rotate about .axes disposed at angles of 60 degrees to'planes. 7 a

of the saw; planes, and.

'tersection common/to in relative proximity of but spaced equidistantlyi from apoint of intersection common to each of the'saw planes positivedrive means for rotating said saws at a uniform speed, means operativeto r 1' bounded by the toregulate the a feed the work through the spacelines of the saw axes, and means, work to positionthe center of the sameaxially gas regards thepoint'bf intersection of the saw p anes,

- ,5.'-In log trisecting mechanism, in combination threelcircular, sawsmounted to locate their planes ;-other at angles of 120Idegrees,;avertically adjustable carriage located below the point of;.intersectionof the saw planesfor positioning the center j of movement inconvergmgrelations' to one" an-' ing said carriage longitudinally'ofsaid axiallline' for feeding the work into cutting relation with thesaws; r l I of saws angularly arranged. with respect to one movement ofthe-same line with the innermost cutting'scopeof the saws being inproximity to but U 20," '6. In saw, structure,- incombinatiom aplurality 1 25 f spaced equidistantly W from said line, a worksupportin'gcarriage,,lo- V catedbelow the point of intersection ofthesaw 7 planes in the space between two of the same,-

the carriage to position the center of the work} supported thereby Iaxiallyias regards saidmeeting-line of the saw planes, and means 7 'fordriving} the carriageit'o feed the work into cutting'relation with thesaws. '7. In saw structure, inicombination, a plurality 'ofs'awssupported for rotation about horizontal axes and angularly .arrangedwithrespect to cne another, the planes of movementjof the same" meeting on acommon axial line, afc'arriage "for;

the work including an endless chainand as'up therefor, means engagingthe chassis at opposite sides of each of the two ends porting eh'assisof the same for supporting the chassis, and means" for simultaneouslyelevating or ilowering said 7 chassis-supporting means toposition thecenter- 1 of the work thereon axially as regards said meet r 1 ing lineof 'the saw planes, andmeans. for'driv into cutting rela ing the chaintofeed the work tion with the saws.

8, Structure for cutting" a; log into a plurality in combination with aj of sectors which comprises,

plurality of circular saws mounted-finlplanes emanating from a commonpoint and rotating equidistant: angles from said saws at a' unilform'speed; means operative. to; v

as regards I the point of intersection of the saw feed the work throughthe spaceboundedby the r l 1 lines of the saw axes, and means toregulatethe work to position'thev center ofithe same axially a 9.Structure "for cuttinga 'log into ai plurality V of sectors whichcomprises;incombinationwith a plurality of circular saws V V 7 theirplanes of movement at' equidistant angles: ifrom one another andemanating mounted to dispose,

ir miaf n commonto each of theplanes, a verticallyjadjustable carriage.located below the point of intioning the center of the work axially asregards the axial line of said intersecting "planes, and

said saw planes for posi-

